Brian Grot
San Diego,CA
Summary
Experienced, responsible and dedicated Automation/Operations Manager with team-oriented mindset. Talented in spotting areas in need of improvement and implementing changes with strategic approach. Interdepartmental collaboration to streamline productivity with knowledge-based solutions. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to enhance company success.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Automation Engineer/Operations Manager
Trutino Biosciences
01.2018 - Current
- Responsible for R&D lab & facility operations
- Coordinate equipment maintenance and calibration
- Improve lab operations, increase safety, and efficiency
- Laboratory organization, vendor coordination, waste stream pick-ups, safety documentation, and equipment management
- Organization of Environmental Health and Safety requirements including chemical storage and waste management
- Maintain EHS compliance and perform safety shower and eyewash inspections
- Responsible for equipment repair and scheduling maintenance as required
- Maintain freezers and perform routine defrosts
- Reduce equipment downtime with proactive maintenance and troubleshooting of automated machinery.
- Provide technical expertise during the integration of new automation equipment into existing production lines.
- Work closely with vendors to ensure timely delivery of instrumentation while adhering to budget constraints.
Sr. Automation Engineer
Pierian Biosciences
01.2016 - 06.2017
- Provide engineering support to automated system within the Research and Development departments
- Maintain current systems and re-develop new customized robotic systems and instrumentation for the development of the CEER Assay (Collaborative Enzyme Enhanced Reactive-immunoassay)
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions for process improvements, resulting in increased productivity.
- Evaluated new technologies in the field of automation engineering, making informed recommendations to drive company growth.
- Provided technical support to production teams during critical machine breakdowns, restoring operations with minimal disruption to schedules.
- Built strong relationships with vendors and suppliers, negotiating favorable terms on components necessary for completing projects on time and within budget constraints.
Automation Engineer II
Prometheus Therapeutics & Diagnostics
05.2013 - 01.2016
- Maintain current and re-develop new customized robotic systems for biologic assays using engineering principles
- Research, design, purchase or develop new process, systems concepts, devices and materials to improve diagnostic design and analysis in support of our biological research team
- Establish and run calibration protocols for instruments and robot systems in Research lab
- Lead and assist efforts in problem solving with regards to the automation systems
- Assist in the validation of process and facility automation
- Modify instrumentation protocols and/or modify software to meet the needs of automating biological assays
- Maintain current systems for microarray slides, as well as other instrumentation used by biological research group
Staff Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2005 - 12.2012
- Critical member of multiple cross-functional teams for major instrumentation projects to increase productivity in the research and discovery of compounds for the development of medicines
- Worked directly with the scientists and engineers to identify process and instrumentation issues and use internal and external resources to provide continual process improvements
- Communicated with users at all North American sites providing expert advice on projects and I was responsible for developing project skills, cross-functional skills and transfer cross-functional expertise between team members regarding project objectives and execution
- Assisted in concept development for new technologies and demonstrated ingenuity in solving complex engineering problems
- Participated in interviews of job candidates.
Quality Control Engineer
Aerotek Scientific Staffing
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Devised and performed quality control experiments on High Throughput Screening instruments for delivery and installation to major Pharmaceutical Companies (Pfizer, BMS, Merck) Projects included work on low volume reagent dispensers, hit picking robotics and assay plate readers
Senior Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2002 - 01.2005
- I performed applications engineering for a variety of R&D activities to help achieve major departmental goals
- I worked with cross-functional teams to design and execute experiments to validate our instruments
- I identified and proposed design modifications as part of our continual process improvement
- I was responsible for training the end-users and other team members on instruments for which I am Lead Applications Engineer
- This included generating relevant documentation and presenting project summaries
- I pro-actively and independently pursued innovative ideas to improve on existing technologies.
Project Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2001 - 01.2002
- I supported sub-project design, implementation and documentation to fulfill overall project objectives for Aurora's UHTSS (Ultra High Throughput Screening System)
- I collaborated with team members to identify and implement effective solutions for numerous technical problems
- I proposed and explored innovative ideas deviating from basic designs with my senior managers
- I worked with HTS biologists to miniaturize multiple assays to run on the high-density screening systems
- I was also responsible for troubleshooting well-defined sub-components under limited supervision and suggested alternative approaches based on collected data
- From these activities, I displayed emerging visibility as a Vertex expert.
Bioengineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2000 - 01.2001
- I played a support role in various engineering activities within the group, following objectives outlined by my supervisor
- I carried out experiments and implemented designs following detailed guidelines
- I documented experimental procedures, designs, and test results for review by project teams
- I summarized and informally presented technical results for internal review and actively shared experience and observations with peers.
Lead Applications Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.1999 - 01.2012
- Lead Applications Engineer for six instruments: High-speed Microliter Reagent Dispenser, Automated Western Blot Developer, Robotic Purification System for Medicinal Compounds, Powder Dispensing Robot, Excipients Solubility Screening Instrument, High-Temperature Organic Solubility Instrument
- Co-Lead Applications Engineer for three instruments: High-Throughput Ussing Instrument & associated equipment, High-Throughput Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance Instrument, Automated Salt and Solid Synthesis Platform.
Education
MS Bioengineering -
Arizona State University
01.1998
BS Bioengineering -
Western New England College
01.1993
Skills
- Continuous improvements
- Operational Efficiency
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Vendor sourcing
Accomplishments
- Member of the Biological Safety Committee and Incident Response Team (HAZMAT)
Timeline
Automation Engineer/Operations Manager
Trutino Biosciences
01.2018 - Current
Sr. Automation Engineer
Pierian Biosciences
01.2016 - 06.2017
Automation Engineer II
Prometheus Therapeutics & Diagnostics
05.2013 - 01.2016
Staff Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2005 - 12.2012
Senior Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2002 - 01.2005
Project Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2001 - 01.2002
Bioengineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.2000 - 01.2001
Quality Control Engineer
Aerotek Scientific Staffing
01.1999 - 01.2000
Lead Applications Engineer
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
01.1999 - 01.2012
MS Bioengineering -
Arizona State University
BS Bioengineering -
Western New England College
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